FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2013, file photo, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen cheers during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, in Denver. Bowlen, who stepped down from his daily duties two summers ago as he battled Alzheimer's, is being inducted into the Broncos' ring of fame at halftime Sunday night, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, talks with St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke prior to the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about Jason Elam in the midst of his retirement announcement from the National Football League during a news conference at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Elam played for 17 years in the NFL, completing his career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in December 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos John Elway and owner Pat Bowlen stand together on the sidelines before a preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider)

Denver Broncos majority team owner Pat Bowlen watches the closing moments of his team's loss to the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 43-13. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, left, and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talk on the sidelines during pre-game of the NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colo., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/ Chris Schneider)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen prior to his teams NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders , Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen walks off the field during football training camp, Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, center, is flanked by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, and vice president John Elway during a news conference at the NFL Denver Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, jokes with head trainer Steve Antonopulos as players take part in drills during NFL football training camp on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on before the start of an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen smiles while talking to the media at Broncos' headquarters in Denver, Thursday, July 28, 2005. The Broncos start training camp Friday July 29 in Denver.

Former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, left, salutes owner Pat Bowlen after Davis was inducted into the "Ring of Fame" during the half-time of the Broncos football game with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Denver, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about the termination of head coach Mike Shanahan during a football news conference at the team's headquarters in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about running back Terrell Davis before introducing him at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Denver on Tuesday, August 20, 2002. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

From left, Pat Hamill, Charlie Goldberg, Billy Thompson, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and Ray Baker, head of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District, join a handful of other dignitaries in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Mile High Stadium in the shadow of the current stadium early Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999. The new Mile High Stadium, which will cost $364.2 million, is already under construction just south of the existing stadium, which was built 51 years ago. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2013, file photo, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen cheers during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, in Denver. Bowlen, who stepped down from his daily duties two summers ago as he battled Alzheimer's, is being inducted into the Broncos' ring of fame at halftime Sunday night, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, talks with St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke prior to the start of an NFL football game between the St. Louis Rams and the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about Jason Elam in the midst of his retirement announcement from the National Football League during a news conference at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Elam played for 17 years in the NFL, completing his career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in December 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

09/25

Denver Broncos John Elway and owner Pat Bowlen stand together on the sidelines before a preseason NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider)

10/25

Denver Broncos majority team owner Pat Bowlen watches the closing moments of his team's loss to the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 43-13. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

11/25

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, left, and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talk on the sidelines during pre-game of the NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colo., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/ Chris Schneider)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen prior to his teams NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on before the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders , Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen walks off the field during football training camp, Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

17/25

New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, center, is flanked by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, and vice president John Elway during a news conference at the NFL Denver Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

18/25

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, jokes with head trainer Steve Antonopulos as players take part in drills during NFL football training camp on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

19/25

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen looks on before the start of an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

20/25

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen smiles while talking to the media at Broncos' headquarters in Denver, Thursday, July 28, 2005. The Broncos start training camp Friday July 29 in Denver.

21/25

Former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, left, salutes owner Pat Bowlen after Davis was inducted into the "Ring of Fame" during the half-time of the Broncos football game with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Denver, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about the termination of head coach Mike Shanahan during a football news conference at the team's headquarters in Denver on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talks about running back Terrell Davis before introducing him at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Denver on Tuesday, August 20, 2002. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

25/25

From left, Pat Hamill, Charlie Goldberg, Billy Thompson, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and Ray Baker, head of the Metropolitan Football Stadium District, join a handful of other dignitaries in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Mile High Stadium in the shadow of the current stadium early Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999. The new Mile High Stadium, which will cost $364.2 million, is already under construction just south of the existing stadium, which was built 51 years ago. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

1987: The Drive

Bowlen is featured wearing a now-iconic fur coat in videos of the legendary 15-play, 1986 AFC Championship winning Elway masterpiece.

1990: The Denver Broncos move their headquarters to Dove Valley in Arapahoe County

This was quite the upgrade. The first Denver Broncos headquarters was in a converted Quonset hut. They were on a tight budget back in 1960, but later expanded and moved to a facility East 58th Avenue and Interstate 25.

Bowlen spearheaded the move to Dove Valley, which has gotten some serious upgrades over the years.

1997: “This one’s for John!”

After the Denver Broncos won their first Super Bowl – beating the heavily-favored Green Bay Packers – Pat Bowlen handed the trophy over to the real star of the show: quarterback John Elway.

“There’s one thing I want to say here tonight and it’s only four words: this … one’s … for … John,” Bowlen said to uproarious applause.

The Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl again the next year.

2001: The Denver Broncos move into what’s now called Broncos Stadium at Mile High

On the heels of back-to-back Super Bowls, Bowlen helped persuade Denver voters to fund 75% of the $400 million new stadium – now Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

Then-Invesco Field at Mile High opened on Sept. 10, 2001. It was one of eight new NFL stadiums built in a three-year span. It became Sports Authority Field, and now is waiting for a new business to buy naming rights.

2008: Bowlen fires his close friend and Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan

Bowlen once referred to Mike Shanahan as the Broncos’ “coach for life” but decided to take the team in another direction follow a third straight shutout from the playoffs.

2012: Peyton Manning joins the Denver Broncos

New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, center, is flanked by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, left, and vice president John Elway during a news conference at the NFL Denver Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

AP

A little more than a year after John Elway was named the general manager and executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos, the former superstar helped usher in a new era involving another future Hall of Famer.

During his four seasons with the Denver Broncos, Manning led the team to two playoff appearances and two Super Bowls – one of which allowed him to end his career on a high note with a win.

2016: “This one’s for Pat!”

Following the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl win in 2016 – two years after Bowlen stepped down from day-to-day operations – Elway had a message for his friend and mentor.

It felt like it was inevitable, but it was still a huge moment of celebration. It was especially special because he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame the same year as cornerback Champ Bailey.

"Great day for the Broncos,'' said Broncos' chief executive officer Joe Ellis, who attended the Hall of Fame press conference. "Great day for Pat and the Bowlen family. Great day for Champ and all his family.''